118 Kansas Academy of Science. 



An outfit of the latter kind was taken and used on a collecting 

 trip for the University of Kansas, under direction of Dr. F. H. 

 Snow, in Hamilton and Morton counties, western Kansas, June, 

 1902. A large street lantern was furnished to supply the light, 

 and the collecting device consisted of a gigantic funnel, made of 

 heavy tin, painted outside, but left bright and smooth inside, and 

 it converged into a receiver, about the size of a large fruit-can, 

 which could be opened by withdrawal of the bottom in order to al- 

 low a cyanide jar to be inserted at time of beginning operation for 

 the night, and to be removed and emptied in the following morn- 

 ing. A tripod of rough poles was erected as a support for the fun- 

 nel, with the lantern hanging directly over its mouth. Our 

 experience in using this outfit has been related in the account of 

 the expedition, published by the author in the Kaiisas Farmer of 

 December 4, 1902, from which the following is quoted: 



"Also, every night the large lantern was lighted and the big 

 funnel hung underneath to trap the insects which fell into it. The 

 light from the lantern served to illuminate the camp finely, though 

 only on one night did it pay as an attraction for insects, but at this 

 time its returns were immense, probably due to a lull and change 

 of wind, which afforded the right condition for insects to fly. 

 Moths and beetles appeared in continuous swarms and fluttered in 

 the circle of light, numbers of them falling into the funnel or onto 

 the ground, and the doctor hastily called out all hands to capture 

 them. Care must be exercised always to prevent injury in catch- 

 ing the delicate creatures ; but here the great number of beauties 

 which fluttered in sight nearly drove the doctor to distraction for 

 fear their perfect condition would be marred by beating their 

 wings against the sides of the funnel or on the ground as they en- 

 deavored to regain their flight. He groaned aloud, as if the sight 

 of so many prizes gave him a pain, being unable to catch every one 

 that he wanted. Really, the party presented a comic, as well as an 

 animated, scene ; the effect of the members in prancing around the 

 lights, whirling nets frantically in the air, or in searching the 

 ground for choicest specimens of the fallen hosts, amid a din of 

 excited exclamations, mingled with the doctor's groans, would have 

 afforded an entertainment for an audience. All efforts were fully 

 repaid at last, for the poison bottles became crammed to the limits 

 with the catches, and the whole party was thoroughly tired before 

 the supply showed signs of failing." 



I might mention, however, that the camp was located at the 



